Connector structure with a u-shaped cross section having a male terminal and a female terminal

Abstract

A male terminal 10 has a wire connecting portion 13 at one end to be connected to an electric wire, and an inserting contact portion 12 at another end to be inserted into a female terminal 30 . A plate member of the inserting contact portion 12 is bent to have a U-shape cross section. The female terminal 30 has a terminal energizing portion 31 composed of a high conductivity material having a frame structure for accommodating the male terminal 10 , a terminal box 32 composed of a material having a strength higher than that of the high conductivity material of the terminal energizing portion 31 for covering the terminal energizing portion 31 , and a spring 33 located within the terminal energizing portion 31 for fixing the male terminal 10 . The spring 33 is formed integrally with the terminal box 32.

1. A female terminal, comprising:
 a terminal energizing portion comprising a high conductivity material comprising a frame structure for accommodating a male terminal, the frame structure formed by bending a single plate member to have a rectangular cross section comprising a bottom surface, two side surfaces bent to be continued from the bottom surface, and an upper surface including two upper surface pieces bent to be continued from the two side surfaces respectively and a joint where the two upper surface pieces face to each other via a gap; and 
 a terminal box comprising a material having a strength higher than that of the high conductivity material of the terminal energizing portion, the terminal box comprising a frame structure for covering the frame structure of the terminal energizing portion, the frame structure being formed by bending another single plate member to have a rectangular cross section, the frame structure comprising an upper surface, two side surfaces bent to be continued from the upper surface, and a lower surface including two lower surface pieces bent to be continued from the two side surfaces respectively and a joint where the two lower surface pieces face to each other via a gap, 
 the terminal box comprising a spring formed integrally with the frame structure of the terminal box, the spring bent to extend from the upper surface into the frame structure of the terminal box, 
 wherein the frame structure of the terminal energizing portion is accommodated into the frame structure of the terminal box to be engaged with each other, and the spring of the terminal box is located within the frame structure of the terminal energizing portion. 
 
   
   
     2. The female terminal, according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an opening formed at a surface of the terminal box, the opening being provided with a fixing tab for fixing the terminal energizing portion; an engaging concave portion formed at a surface of the terminal energizing portion for engaging with the fixing tab, the surface of the terminal energizing portion contacting with the surface of the terminal box; 
 wherein the terminal box and the terminal energizing portion are fixed with each other by bending the fixing tab into the engaging concave portion. 
 
   
   
     3. A connector structure comprising a male terminal and a female terminal, wherein:
 the male terminal comprises:
 a wire connecting portion at one end thereof, to be connected to an electric wire; and 
 an inserting contact portion formed by bending a flat-plate member to have a U-shape cross section at another end, to be inserted into a female terminal; and 
 
 the female terminal comprises:
 a terminal energizing portion comprising a high conductivity material comprising a frame structure for accommodating the male terminal, the frame structure formed by bending a single plate member to have a rectangular cross section comprising a bottom surface, two side surfaces bent to be continued from the bottom surface, and an upper surface including two upper surface pieces bent to be continued from the two side surfaces respectively and a joint where the two upper surface pieces face to each other via a gap; 
 a terminal box comprising a material having a strength higher than that of the high conductivity material of the terminal energizing portion, the terminal box having a frame structure for covering the frame structure of the terminal energizing portion, the frame structure formed by bending another single plate member to have a rectangular cross section, the frame structure comprising an upper surface, two side surfaces bent to be continued from the upper surface, and a lower surface including two lower surface pieces bent to be continued from the two side surfaces respectively and a joint where the two lower surface pieces face to each other via a gap, 
 the terminal box comprising a spring formed integrally with the frame structure of the terminal box, the spring bent to be extended from the upper surface into the frame structure of the terminal box, 
 wherein the frame structure of the terminal energizing portion is accommodated into the frame structure of the terminal box to be engaged with each other, and the spring of the terminal box is located within the frame structure of the terminal energizing portion.